There comes a point in many a hockey fans life where he realizes he sadly isn’t going to make the NHL. Some realize their talents are better suited for buying tickets and watching from the stands. Others find different ways to work in hockey in non-playing capacities.
One of the greatest of those jobs seems to have become available in Southern California. The Anaheim Ducks have put out a job listing to don not the almighty orange uniform of their players, but the costume of their famous mascot Wild Wing. Maybe you got one of their giveaway duck masks from opening nights and realized what your true calling was. Well now is your chance!
The Ducks are on the lookout for a “backup” mascot. You know who else needs “backups”? Goaltenders, and every now and then those backups need to come in and save the game. That could be you in mascot form. Remember an NHL mascot’s schedule isn’t limited to home games but also a schedule full of community appearances. Who else is going to visit schools and go to watch parties?
Wild Wing has been the mascot of the Ducks since their inception as the Disney owned Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in 1993. The popularity of Ducks merchandise under Disney ownership made him a well-known icon throughout the greater sports world. He survived the sale of the team and rebrand as the Anaheim Ducks and has his own statue outside of the arena. He’s also the only mascot in NHL history to do double duty as a Disney cartoon character in the “Mighty Ducks” cartoon series. Duck themed mascots always seem to have the most fun. Just look at Puddles at the University of Oregon.
Let’s look at the qualifications for those who want to suit up as #93. The team wants someone with a sense of humor and previous experience in performing or sports. Apparently part of the job is driving a Ducks promotional vehicle (out of costume, we assume) so you’ll need a driver’s license. Wild Wing usually zip lines down from the Honda Center rafters prior to home games, hence the final disclaimer of “must be comfortable with heights and able to zipline” (yes, that’s actually on the job listing page).
If that’s not a deal breaker, and you’re around the Southern California area, you can apply to what be one of the best gigs in hockey here. No, we don’t think you’ll have to jump through any fire like Wild Wings ill-fated infamous attempt, but there might be ample opportunities to visit Disneyland. You can even visit Anaheim’s other professional team when the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim host their annual Ducks Night. The job also lists coming up with ideas as one of the tasks, so creativity is a plus in being the official ambassador of the Ducks team.